This summer, Walt Disney World will debut its highly anticipated new MagicBand, called MagicBand+. These new MagicBands will be able to do things above and beyond the traditional MagicBand. Regular MagicBands — which have been at Walt Disney World for years — are able to hold Guests’ theme park tickets, Park reservations, Lightning Lane Reservations, open your hotel room door, and more. MagicBand+ will be able to do all that and more, a lot of which will be in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary.
As part of its 50th Anniversary celebration, Walt Disney World Imagineers created 50 beautiful gold statues of classic and newer Disney characters. These statues are called the Fab 50. The new MagicBand+ will be able to interact with these statues, creating a truly one-of-a-kind experience for Guests. Some Walt Disney World Resort Cast Members were given the chance to use MagicBand+ and had a great time.
We recently “banded” together with some Cast Members at Magic Kingdom for a special sneak peek of the new MagicBand+ Disney Fab 50 Quest! We had a blast bringing some of our favorite Disney characters to life and can’t wait to interact with the rest of the Disney Fab 50 Character Collection when MagicBand+ launches this summer. Which sculpt are you most excited to interact with? #DisneyCastLife #DisneyWorld50
In addition to using the MagicBand+ to interact with the Fab 50 statues, Guests will also see their Bands light up as they watch Disney Enchantment at magic Kingdom and Harmonious at EPCOT. Much like the Mickey ear hats that debuted at Disney years ago, MagicBand+ will light up in time to the music and change colors as the show progresses.
Guests who purchase MagicBand+ will also be able to become Bounty Hunters as they spend time in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The MagicBand+ will light up and vibrate as you get close to the hidden virtual bounties you are searching for. Then, in conjunction with the Play Disney Parks app, a thermal imager on your phone will reveal the hidden bounty. If Guests complete their missions, local guide masters will reward them with galactic credits.
Now, the Fab 50 statues, as well as Disney Enchantment and Harmonious, were created specifically for the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary. The 50th is scheduled to run through March 2023, and it is unknown if the statues and shows will remain after that. Disney has not revealed what things the MagicBand+ will be able to interact with once the 50th is over.
A 22-year-old Canadian man has been arrested on an outstanding warrant for allegedly making a bomb threat at Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in 2019.
Matthew Carney was arrested at the Ogdensburg, New York, Port of Entry, at the United States-Canada border by agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, according to a news release from United States Customs and Border Protection. Border agents confirmed the outstanding warrant for Carney’s arrest out of Florida and transferred him to the Ogdensburg Police Department.
Carney was working as a Cast Member at the Walt Disney World Resort when he allegedly made the bomb threat at the Florida parks. He is currently in the custody of the St. Lawrence Sheriff’s Office.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection news release reads as follows:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Ogdensburg Port of Entry arrested a 22-year-old male, Canadian citizen who had an outstanding felony warrant out of Florida.
On May 16, CBP officers encountered a passenger vehicle occupied by a Canadian Citizen traveling alone. During the inspection process, it was discovered that the driver of the vehicle, Matthew Carney, had an active National Crime Information Center (NCIC) warrant issued by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, in Florida for issuing a bombthreat to Disney World staff. The warrant stemmed from an incident in 2019, while Carney was employed by Walt Disney World.
“This incident highlights the continued work that CBP does alongside our many law enforcement partners, playing a vital role in maintaining the safety of our communities,” said Ogdensburg Port Director Thomas Trimboli.
In 2019, Carney, age 19 at the time, allegedly told a security guard standing outside Magic Kingdom at Disney World “I have a bomb.” He further told the security guard, “I am going to blow up the castle,” according to a report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
The security guard took Carney to her manager at Magic Kingdom, and he made another statement to the manager about his desire to “blow up the castle.” In the Sheriff’s Office report, the Security manager said that Carney “had a straight face, was not laughing, and appeared to be serious while making these statements.”
When Carney was searched by an Orange County deputy, he was found to have two cell phones on his person: one that was on and one that was “not operable.”
Charges were officially filed by the State Attorney’s Office more than a year after the alleged bomb threat took place, in August 2020 according to court records online.
Late Tuesday afternoon, an attorney representing Carney filed a motion for him to be released on his own recognizance.
The attorney’s motion states that Carney was participating in Disney’s internship program at the time the alleged incident took place and that he was not arrested during that investigation. The attorney also asserts in her motion that Carney had “no knowledge” of any outstanding warrant for his arrest, that he had no knowledge of the delayed filing of charges by the State Attorney’s Office, and that he has graduated from college since the alleged incident took place.
With more and more people creating content related to Disney Parks across all sorts of platforms, it’s no wonder everyone wants to get the latest scoop or come up with the best tips for their audience.
However, one content creator recently received a response quite different from what she would have expected on one of her videos.
Bethy Hamilton (@bethyhamilton) recently shared on TikTok a Disney World tip “no one wants to tell you because it’s that good.” In her video, she mentions how she always wants a snack at the end of the night and explains that Guests can place mobile orders at select locations to be picked up even after official Park closing hours, which is perfect for satisfying those late-night cravings.
And although this is acceptable and authorized by Disney, many viewers were surprisingly unhappy with this hack. Some commented that Bethy shouldn’t be posting this information, as Guests would take advantage and force Cast Members to work extra hours, while others shared that doing this was plain rude in their opinion. One Cast Member even mentioned that seeing the number of comments worried about Disney’s Cast Members warmed her heart.
However, Bethy and other Cast Members, both former and current, assured that Cast Members are already scheduled past closing and that, contrary to what many viewers initially thought, making use of this tip would not cause anyone to stay extra hours. Quite the contrary, it would allow Guests to enjoy an almost empty Park and a delicious snack to end their day.
With over 45 thousand views on this video, we’re sure more Guests will put this Disney World tip to the test, resting assured that Cast Members will not have to work extra hours to accommodate Guests’ late-night cravings.
In recent weeks, Disney has been struggling when it comes to its image with both Guests and Cast Members. Many are upset with the company and its handling of Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill. Many felt that Disney’s condemnation of the legislation came too late and didn’t say anything of substance. Cast Members were so disappointed in Disney that they planned a number of walkouts in protest. Disney, and CEO Bob Chapek, have tried to make things right in the eyes of those Cast Members, but nothing seems to be working.
However, there is another group of Cast Members who have different feelings on the matter. Those Cast Members believe that Disney should not say anything more on the bill. More than that, they feel that Disney should remain politically neutral. They have remained relatively quiet about their feelings for fear of reprisals and being considered “villains” to those who do not support the bill.
Those Cast Members have created a public petition, asking Disney to stay neutral when it comes to political matters. They noted that, several months ago, Disney sent a survey to Cast Members, asking if they felt accepted. The petition states that a number of more conservative Cast Members did not feel comfortable answering the questions. They believe that Disney leans more progressive and, if they answered the questions, they would be targeted and potentially lose their jobs.
The petition asks that Disney should not “be a vehicle for one demographic’s activism.” They feel that the current environment within the company is one of fear for those that do not lean along more progressive lines.
Bob Chapek has not commented on the current petition. He has, however, been repeatedly letting LGBTQ+ Cast Members know that he stands with them as an ally and will ensure that the company fights harder to protect them. He also announced that Disney has paused all political donations in Florida. Unfortunately for Chapek, Cast Members and Guests do not seem to be the only ones upset with him. The Florida Democratic Party has announced that a gala they had planned to hold at the Walt Disney World Resort has been canceled and will be held elsewhere.
As employees of the Walt Disney Company, we believe in the dignity of all people. This is why we do what we do. We write stories. We make costumes. We act in parades. We run cruises. We stream movies. We make magic. We do this because our work contributes to a fountain of wonder that inspires joy, awe, and delight in guests and audiences of all ages. We are proud employees of the Walt Disney Company. We love our jobs because we get to share the wonder of life and human experience with millions of people worldwide.
However, over the last few years, one group of cast members has become invisible within the company. The Walt Disney Company has come to be an increasingly uncomfortable place to work for those of us whose political and religious views are not explicitly progressive. We watch quietly as our beliefs come under attack from our own employer, and we frequently see those who share our opinions condemned as villains by our own leadership.
The company’s evolving response to the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation in Florida has left many of us wondering what place we have in a company actively promoting a political agenda so far removed from our own. TWDC leadership frequently communicates its commitment to creating an inclusive workplace where cast members feel comfortable sharing their perspectives and being their authentic selves at work. That is not our workplace experience.
Over the last few weeks, we have watched as our leadership has expressed their condemnation for laws and policies we support. We have watched as our colleagues, convinced that no one in the company could possibly disagree with them, grow increasingly aggressive in their demands. They insist that TWDC take a strong stance on not only this issue but other legislation and openly advocate for the punishment of employees who disagree with them.
An internal poll within the company went out a few months ago asking us if we felt accepted in the company. Many of us didn’t complete it because the nature of the questions made us worry that the results of the poll could be used to target us for quietly holding a position that runs against the progressive orthodoxy that Disney seems to promote. TWDC has fostered an environment of fear that any employee who does not toe the line will be exposed and dismissed.
Much has been made of our internal efforts to Reimagine Tomorrow, but as much as diversity and inclusion are promoted, the tomorrow being reimagined doesn’t seem to have much room for religious or political conservatives within the company. Left-leaning cast members are free to promote their agenda and organize on company time using company resources. They call their fellow employees “bigots” and pressure TWDC to use corporate influence to further their left-wing legislative goals.
Meanwhile, those of us who don’t align with this vision keep our heads down and do our work without bringing our personal beliefs into the workplace. We’ve done this without complaint because we don’t want to rock the boat, but the boat is being rocked, and our leadership seems compelled to reward those who are rocking it.
Employees who want TWDC to make left-wing political statements are encouraged, while those of us who want the company to remain neutral can say so only in a whisper out of fear of professional retaliation. The company we love seems to think we don’t exist or don’t belong here. This politicization of our corporate culture is damaging morale and causing many of us to feel our days with TWDC might be numbered.
Furthermore, as this politicization makes its way into our content and public messaging, our more conservative customers will feel similarly unwanted. You can only preach at or vilify your audience for so long before they decide to spend their money elsewhere.
Working for The Walt Disney Company is a dream come true. We love being part of creating the magic that so many people around the world enjoy. Our storytelling is second to none. It resonates with people from all walks of life across the political spectrum. Our parks are the source of joy and inspiration that Walt hoped they would become. Every year, millions of guests escape an increasingly divided world to a place where they can relive fond memories of the past and savor the challenge and promise of the future. They do this alongside thousands of other guests that might not have anything in common with them other than a shared love of Disney.
The unique brand of family entertainment that Disney is known for is an objective good in this dark world. It brings people together and provides cultural touchpoints that even the worst enemies can unite over. At the height of COVID lockdowns in the Summer of 2020 when the country was fiercely divided over a range of issues, Hamilton provided us something to collectively celebrate. At the end of an incredibly contentious election year, The Mandalorian was there to soothe a weary nation with non-political entertainment we could all enjoy no matter who you voted for. When Disney takes sides in political debates, they deprive the world of a shared love we all have in common. TWDC is uniquely situated to provide experiences and entertainment that can bridge our national divide and bring us all together.
CEO, Bob Chapek had the right idea in his original statement that he has since walked back. In Chapek’s own words, “As we have seen time and again, corporate statements do very little to change outcomes or minds. … Instead, they are often weaponized by one side or the other to further divide and inflame.” Disney is far more important and impactful to the world by avoiding politics than it will ever be by embracing a political agenda. By focusing on entertainment that inspires us with stories of universal appeal, we are doing good in the world.
Disney shouldn’t be a vehicle for one demographic’s political activism. It’s so much bigger and more important than that. More than ever, the world needs things that we can unite around. That’s the most valuable role The Walt Disney Company could play in the world at this time. It’s a role we’ve played for nearly a century, and it would be a shame to throw all of that away in the face of left-wing political pressure. Please don’t let Disney become just another thing we divide over.
Just when we thought we had heard it all, we learn about a couple who visited the parks and endangered the life of their baby, and all in the name of . . . nostalgia?
Millions and millions of Guests make their way through the gates at the theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort in California each and every day of the year. Some are old Guests, some are young Guests, some are in-between Guests. There are short Guests, tall Guests, and . . . the list goes on.
And because so many people visit the Disney Parks every year, it’s not uncommon to hear of some less-than-mature, less-than-appropriate behavior. Despite rules developed by the Walt Disney Company for Guests visiting a Disney property, there seems to be no shortage of Guests whose behaviors at Disney Parks would likely bring shame and embarrassment to their mothers.
We’ve even reported on some of the most dangerous Guest behavior at Disney. Some Guests have tried to bring toy guns into the parks. That may sound harmless to some, but to Disney Security, it’s a problem. There have been incidences of Guests fighting with other Guests, Guests wearing inappropriate clothing in the parks, and Guests arguing with Cast Members who touch their baby’s strollers.
A so-called “urban explorer” was caught by Disney Security and Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies as he was trespassing on the abandoned Discovery Island near Magic Kingdom. (Sadly, it didn’t stop him from continuing to breach the gates at the Walt Disney World Resort and enter backstage areas where no Disney Guest is permitted.)
We’ve even seen and heard reports of Guests base-jumping off of moving ride vehicles to retrieve cell phones near dangerous animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Guests inappropriately touching character Cast Members, and more.
A young Disney Guest once climbed out of the boat at the Splash Mountain attraction at Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort when the boat stopped mid-way through the ride and refused to get back into the boat for an extended period of time.
When it comes to the Disney Guest behavior, sometimes we think we’ve heard it all.
But this may be the first report we’ve heard–at least in a while–of Guests misbehaving and endangering the safety and well-being of their own child.
People Magazine published an article titled, “Disney World and Disneyland Employees Share the Craziest Things They’ve Ever Seen at Work,” and the Cast Member communal confessional of things they’ve witnessed while working at the U. S. Disney Parks is astounding. This particular story was terrifying.
A Cast Member working at the Dumbo the Flying Elephant Attraction shared the experience of witnessing a couple putting the life of their baby in danger. A group of Guests boarded the ride vehicles at the attraction, and it was obvious to Cast Members that they were inebriated. Two of the Guests who were drunk got into the ride vehicle with their infant and buckled their safety belts.
Soon, Dumbo took flight as Cast Members put the ride into operation. Once the couple with the baby was soaring 18 feet off the ground, they unbuckled the safety restraint and suspended the baby mid-air, as though they were re-enacting the first scene from Disney’s The Lion King in which Baby Simba is held up by Rafiki so all at Pride Rock could see him.
“While I was working on Dumbo,” the Cast Member explained, “these drunk people removed their infant from the seat belt and held the baby like Simba outside of the carriage while the ride was up 18 feet in the air, so their other drunk friends could take pictures of them doing it. We had to emergency stop the ride. They were escorted away and arrested once outside the park gates. It was very scary to witness.”
Thankfully, Cast Members were extremely attentive, saw the dangerous situation unfolding before them, and immediately stopped the ride before anyone was hurt.
The couple was escorted to the front of the park and arrested outside the gates. Thankfully, the baby was unharmed, but it’s truly terrifying to realize what might have happened had the less-than-aware, less-than-responsible Guests been any less aware and less responsible.
